2009

In anticipation of the annual year-end review, here is a collection of five favorite overlooked songs that were not included in last year's list. This is a recognition of some tracks released in 2009 that eithe...

"Dominos" The Big Pink A murky wash of distorted guitars and hazy synths paired with slick beats (almost) masks this track's transparent topic. The swaggering shoe-gaze duo waste no time d...

"Kettering" The Antlers Repeated, persistent piano chords support and console Peter Silberman's fragile voice as he grapples with mortality on "Kettering." The song moves from melancholia ...

"Treat Me Like Your Mother" The Dead Weather Allison Mosshart fiercely sneers, demands and threatens over Jack White's slick beats and Jack Lawrence's and Dean Fertita's prog-punk rock. ...

"These Are My Twisted Words" Radiohead Radiohead's twisted words are stunningly wrapped in their twisted sounds. Thom Yorke's vocals float effortlessly over the disorienting, hazy soundsca...

"The Rake's Song" The Decemberists Colin Meloy not so much sings but bellows, with chilling bravado, his unsurprisingly clever libretto about infanticide. -Claire Tiller ...

"All the Words You Can't Say Right" Laarks The boys in Laarks have found a way to express their emotions without coming across as obvious or cheesy. That is a particularly fine line to wal...

"All the Way Down" Tiny Animals Tiny Animals manage to capture the Killers, Silversun Pickups, and Weezer all in one anthemic song. Build up, break down, repeat. -Claire Tiller ...